Elect Directors at May 1 Meeting

The election of Tampa Audubon officers and board members will be at the May 1 membership meeting. Members can vote either in person or on Zoom. 

Please plan to attend and vote! 

The Nominating Committee is pleased to announce its recommended slate of candidates for two-year terms for the following Board of Director positions:

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Mic McCarty

Director:  Mic McCarty

Mic has been a member of TAS since 2013, and has served on the Board of Directors since 2017. For several years, Mic has been the TAS Field Trip Coordinator, to which he has devoted a lot of time and energy. Mic is a former military pilot and retired middle school teacher. A dedicated conservationist, Mic has led many field trips for TAS, including regular bird surveys at Fred and Ida Schultz Preserve, and is a regular participant in Christmas Bird Counts and Nest Watch. He is interested in bird photography.

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Jonathan Hoiles

Director:  Jonathan Hoiles

Jonathan joined the Board of Directors in 2022 and became the Chair of our Photo Club in 2022. Jonathan developed a passion for bird photography during his time at the Naval Hospital in Okinawa, where he encountered Japanese bird photographers capturing stunning images of tropical birds. The thrill of fast-paced bird photography and the excitement of tracking down birds in the wild captivated him, leading him to delve into the art and technique of bird photography. After retiring from the Navy, Jonathan relocated to Tampa, where he discovered Florida's diverse bird species, sparking his interest in wildlife conservation photography. His mission is to foster a connection between people and nature, believing that increased awareness fosters a deeper appreciation, influencing decisions and actions that support habitat and wildlife preservation.

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Jim Hengelbrok

Director:  Jim Hengelbrok

Jim has served on the TAS Board of Directors since 2020. He has served on several board committees, including the Bylaws, Nominating, and Membership Committees.  Jim has had a lifelong interest in birds, and over the past several years has begun leading TAS field trips, including Beginning Bird Walks at Lettuce Lake Park.    

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Josiah Patrick

Director:  Josiah Patrick 

Josiah was appointed to TAS Board of Directors in September of 2024 to fill a vacancy after the resignation of a director. Josiah is a nature photographer, bird lover and birding guide. Josiah uses his photography and bird guiding as a way to share his love of birds and hopes to foster a deeper understanding of the bird and animal species seen during our journey to natural spaces around the world. He aims to offer a colorful perspective on birding and hopes to inspire others to do small acts of conservation within their own communities. In his free time, Josiah enjoys bird banding at Caladesi banding station and searching for new bird species locally and abroad.

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Ron Huston

Director: Ron Huston

Ron is recommended by Nominating Committee as a new director, after the TAS Board of Directors recently voted to expand the board from 8 to 9 directors. Ron has been a member of National Audubon for about 40 years, and a member of TAS for almost 20 years. Over the past several years, Ron has assisted with the 2024 Birding and Nature Festival, and has been a presenter at the 2025 TAS OLLI class at Lettuce Lake Park, and participated in the recent Christmas Bird Count. Ron previously lived in Colorado, where he was a board member of Evergreen Audubon for about 8 years, including terms as president, vice-president, and treasurer of that Audubon chapter. Ron is interested in contributing to conservation efforts, in particular getting more people enthusiastic about supporting conservation measures.